On Oct. 19, their contributions were celebrated during the annual President's Staff Recognition Awards, which honour staff for outstanding service, leadership, innovation, community building and efforts to advance equity and inclusion.

鈥淩ealizing our ambitions for research and academic excellence, as well as student thriving and other priorities in the University Academic Plan, is only possible because of the skill and dedication of our staff,鈥� says President and Vice-Chancellor Lisa Philipps. "Their work makes a material difference in the lives of our students and colleagues. I am grateful for the care they bring to their roles and for the many ways that their contributions help 91亚色 grow and flourish. My sincere congratulations to all nominees and recipients.鈥澨�

2025 President's Staff Recognition Awards recipients and nominees 

Decolonization, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (DEDI) Award 

This award recognizes the passion, dedication and campus engagement by a team or individual staff member to advance decolonization, equity, diversity and inclusion at 91亚色. It acknowledges ongoing work or outstanding accomplishments in practice, events, policy, programs or other activities that foster equitable, sustainable and measurable change on campus, with an intersectional social justice lens, especially for equity-deserving groups such as women, visible/racialized people, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. 

Winner: Harriett Brempong, career education and development specialist, Markham Campus

As founder and chair of the Markham Campus PRIDE Committee, Brempong helped advance inclusion and belonging through initiatives such as Black History Month programming, Taking Up Space and targeted career supports for Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQIA+ students. Her leadership created meaningful opportunities for representation, empowerment and community connection.

Deborah Hobson 91亚色 Citizenship Award 

Former Vice-President Enrolment and Student Services Deborah Hobson devoted her career to 91亚色 with energetic commitment and boundless enthusiasm, guided by a distinctive vision of higher education. Established in her honour, this award is presented to an individual who emulates Hobson's spirited dedication to 91亚色 students and her deep enthusiasm for the 91亚色 community. Nominees embody the 91亚色 spirit, using their creativity and imagination in support of the student community at 91亚色. 

Winner: Amber Roberts, administrative coordinator, Student Community & Leadership Development, Division of Students

Roberts was recognized for her leadership in Student Community & Leadership Development and Residence Life, where she oversaw key student-facing services, mentored student staff and helped create vibrant campus programming and spaces. Through her leadership听in these听services, mentorship of student staff, and stewardship of campus spaces and programming, Roberts consistently enhances the student experience.听

 Nominees:   

• Andreanne Dibo Amany, associate director, Graduate Student Affairs, Faculty of Graduate Studies 
• Waziha Kabir, coordinator, Student Success, Calumet College
• Agata Stypka, learning skills and academic success specialist, Markham Campus   

Gary Brewer Emerging Leader Award  

Established in honour of former Vice-President Finance and Administration Gary Brewer, this award is presented to a non-academic employee of 91亚色 who has shown tremendous promise for assuming a leadership role at the University. Recognizing and encouraging early-career professionals, it celebrates a staff member known for innovative and meaningful contributions to the effectiveness of their unit and for significantly contributing to the University's commitment to excellence.  

Winner: Nafis Ahmed, associate director, entrepreneurship, Division of Research & Innovation

Ahmed helped expand entrepreneurship and innovation opportunities at 91亚色 through the growth of YSpace programming, the launch of 91亚色's first Lab2Market cohort and initiatives such as the Automotive Innovation Challenge. His work supported students, faculty, alumni and startups in transforming ideas into real-world impact while strengthening 91亚色鈥檚 position within Canada鈥檚 innovation ecosystem.听

 Nominees:   

• Andrew Brown, student engagement coordinator, Student Community & Leadership Development, Division of Students  
• Nikita Cruz, international student experience coordinator, 91亚色 International 
• Waziha Kabir, international student experience coordinator, Calumet College  
• Jennifer Vu, coordinator, Student Financial Services,

Harriet Lewis Team Award for Service Excellence   

Established in honour of former University Secretary and General Counsel Harriet Lewis, this award recognizes a team's excellence in service and support to students, faculty, course directors, staff and/or other service users, and its promotion of the 91亚色 spirit in terms of imagination, creativity, innovation and redefining the possible in service to 91亚色's community. 

Winner: Digital Technologies Program team听

• Flodora Apoostolaqi, work-integrated learning programs coordinator  
• Nelufur Bhasin, director, educational and employer partnerships 
• Aileen Chan, undergraduate program administrator 
• Adam Duncan, assistant director   
• Nicole Habis, manager, educational and employer partnerships 
• Carmen Ly, coordinator, employer and educational partnerships   
• Marily Molina, business development manager  
• Viniththa Nagarajah, coordinator, employer and educational partnerships  
• Jack Onorati, manager, educational and employer partnerships  
• Jenny Peach-Squibb, professional skills coach

The Digital Technologies Program Team played a key role in building and delivering one of 91亚色's most distinctive work-integrated degree programs. By bringing together academic and industry partners, the team created meaningful pathways to career success and helped establish Digital Technologies as a flagship program at 91亚色's Markham Campus.

Nominees: 听听

• Connected Minds administrative team, Vice-President Research & Innovation  
• Joint Kellogg-Schulich Executive Master in Business Administration,  
• The English administrative team, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
• The Event Operations team, Athletics & Recreation  
• The Faculty Curriculum team, LA&PS 
• The Science Conversion team, Faculty of Science  
• The YU-CARD Office, Division of Finance & Administration听

The President鈥檚 Leadership Award   

This award recognizes excellence in service to 91亚色, honouring contributions that go beyond the published requirements of a position and performance levels that foster a high level of professionalism. Recipients inspire professionalism, creativity and innovation across the University community, and their impact extends beyond an individual department and across the University community at large.  

Winner: Mya Rimon, assistant dean, students, Osgoode Hall Law School

Rimon was recognized for making a significant impact on the student experience at Osgoode Hall Law School and across 91亚色 through her creativity, innovation and commitment to student life. Known as a trusted advisor and collaborative leader, she creates environments where students and colleagues felt supported and able to succeed.听

  Nominees:   

• Nicole Arsenault, director, Sustainability Office, Division of Finance & Administration  
• Melanie Belore, executive director, experiential learning, Cooperative Education & Experiential Learning
• Ella Burrell, director of student success and academic advising, Calumet College   
• Mandy Frake, director, teaching development, VP Faculty 
• Byron Gray, manager, 91亚色 - TD Community Engagement Centre, Division of Equity, People & Culture
• Ramon Kagan, director, operational excellence and institutional applications, UIT, Division of Finance & Administration鈥�    
• Debbie Montanera-Bojda, director, people partnerships, Human Resources, Division of Finance & Administration  
• Taylor Morihovitis, manager, housing administration, Division of Finance & Administration  
• Jillian Yeung Do, executive officer, Schulich School of Business 

Phyllis Clark Campus Service Award 

In honour of former Vice-President Finance and Administration Phyllis Clark, this award is presented to a non-academic employee of 91亚色 who has made exemplary and outstanding contributions to the operations of either of 91亚色's campuses in terms of efficiency, cleanliness, safety, security and/or other campus or plant services. 

Winner: Michael Kelloway, manager, ancillary services, Markham Campus

With more than three decades of service to 91亚色, Kelloway played an instrumental role in the successful launch of 91亚色's Markham Campus, helping build both essential services and a strong sense of community. He earned widespread respect for his collaborative approach, operational expertise and commitment to supporting others.听

  Nominees:   

• Whitney L'Esperance, administrative assistant, Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science,
• Jamie Thomson, supervisor, community safety operations, Community Safety Department, Markham Campus 

President鈥檚 Voice of 91亚色 Award   

The Voice of 91亚色 Award is given to an individual who is a first point of contact person at 91亚色, employed as front-line staff with regular interaction with the 91亚色 community. The most important voice of 91亚色 is the one who makes the first contact with a visitor or a community member; the quality of responsiveness, compassion and professionalism 鈥� particularly in handling difficult or sensitive situations 鈥� and a genuine desire to assist are essential to 91亚色's reputation. 

Winner: Tessa Jean, administrative assistant, 91亚色 TD Community Engagement Centre, Division of Equity, People & Culture

As a key point of contact at the TD Community Engagement Centre, Jean created welcoming and supportive experiences for students, community members, faculty and partners. Her professionalism, compassion and ability to help people navigate complex situations strengthened trust and engagement across the communities she served.听

 Nominees: 

• Stephanie Allen, learning technology support specialist, Office of Curriculum Innovation & Teaching Excellence, Schulich School of Business  
• Suzie Lee Hortness, director of development, advancement, Markham Campus  
• Mandy Ramnaraine, graduate program administrator, Academic Services, Faculty of Science 
• Samirah Sharif, operations assistant, Food & Vending Services, Division of Finance & Administration
• Tina Sposato, executive assistant to the vice-president research and innovation    

Ronald Kent Medal    

This award recognizes employees who promote and strengthen collegiality, values and goals of 91亚色. Its namesake, Ronald Kent, had a unique personal commitment to the University demonstrated through years of dedicated service. His sincerity and enthusiasm inspired colleagues across the University, and he was considered a true ambassador for 91亚色. 

Winner: Patrick Legris, administrative assistant, Department of Visual Art & Art History,

Known throughout the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design as a pillar of strength and collegiality, Legris spent decades supporting students, staff and faculty with generosity, compassion and dedication. His commitment to community has made a lasting impact on the life of the University.听

  Nominees:   

• Sanja Begic, web development specialist, Communications & Marketing, LA&PS   
• Patricia di Benigno, administrative coordinator, Department of History, LA&PS 
• Celeta Irvin, undergraduate program administrator, Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies, LA&PS 
• Nicola Martin, career development officer, Office of Admissions & Student Services, Career Development Office, Osgoode Hall Law School 

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The (YET) brings together community-identified milestones from across the University鈥檚 history in an interactive resource designed to grow through participation.听

Students, faculty, staff, alumni and retirees can explore the timeline, engage with 91亚色鈥檚 equity journey and contribute perspectives that can help the timeline continue to grow. 

Built with contributions from 91亚色 community members, the timeline captures experiences and developments that have helped shape equity at 91亚色. Milestones range from incremental changes to bold initiatives and may relate to particular social issues, identity groups, academic or staff units, or have broader relevance across the University. 

The project builds on a community consultation launched in 2025 that invited submission of events, initiatives and experiences. 听

The digital timeline allows visitors to navigate an interactive collection of key moments across 91亚色's history, search by topic and learn more about the events, initiatives and experiences included. 

Community members can provide instant feedback on milestones by selecting a reaction, sharing reflections and suggesting additions. 

Feedback is reviewed by the YET team and helps inform the timeline鈥檚 continued development of an engaging living resource that encourages storytelling, connection and dialogue across generations of the 91亚色 community. 

The project traces its roots back to 91亚色's founding vision. At his installation as the University's first president, Murray Ross described 91亚色 as a "new university" with a responsibility to foster social progress, critical thinking and human development. The timeline invites community members to consider how that vision has taken shape through decades of collective action. 

"This timeline, created by 91亚色 community members, charts the University's path toward equity, starting with its founding," says Laina Bay-Cheng, interim provost and vice-president academic, who led the project in her former role as vice-president equity, people and culture.  

"I hope it helps people reflect on how far we've come, celebrates moments where 91亚色 has led the way and reinforces the next steps toward equity.鈥� 

The project supports 91亚色鈥檚 commitment to advancing decolonizing, equity, diversity and inclusion across the institution. It recognizes the work reflected in 91亚色鈥檚 DEDI Strategy while highlighting the decades of contributions from the community who have helped shape a more equitable University.听听听

听"The timeline is a creative way to bring together different perspectives on what equity means, how we can advance it and how we measure progress across the 91亚色 community," says Parissa Safai, interim vice-president, equity, people and culture.听听

"I hope it helps build a shared sense of pride and belonging and encourages people to stay involved." 

For Bay-Cheng, one of the strengths of the project lies in its ability to place individual moments within a broader story of institutional change. 

"I know from my own research how meaningful life history calendar methodologies can be. Creating a timeline isn't just about identifying events, it's a chance to see past experiences in context: what came before, what was going on at the same time and what came after," she says.  

"The timeline allows us to understand the history of equity at 91亚色 and to consider what we want it to be in the future." 

The 91亚色 Equity Timeline is a living project that grows through community participation. While it captures many significant moments in 91亚色's history, community members are encouraged to continue contributing milestones, stories and perspectives that help tell a fuller story of the University's ongoing pursuit of equity. 

Explore the .

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Dear 91亚色 community, 

Today we launch 91亚色's new 2026-30 University Academic Plan (UAP). The UAP sets our academic direction for the next four years, built on six principles that will guide how we teach, learn, research and engage with each other and the world beyond 91亚色.  

The UAP is a plan for the entire 91亚色 community, and we all have a role to play in bringing it to life.  

Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Lisa Philipps and I will host drop-in engagement sessions on each campus. Join us to learn more about the plan's principles, ask questions and share your hopes for where the UAP can lead us. You can also explore the new UAP website and read YFile to learn more about the plan.

听
Monday, Oct. 26, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.听
Vari Hall Rotunda听

听
Monday, Nov. 2, 9 to 11 a.m.听
Atrium听

听
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 1 to 3 p.m.听
Centre of Excellence (COE) Atrium听

Bring your ideas. At the events, you can write your hopes for the plan on seed paper and post them under the principle that speaks to you. The seed paper will later be planted on our campuses, allowing those ideas to grow both symbolically and literally. 

Faculty, staff, students and instructors are all welcome and no registration is required. Stay a while or drop by for 15 minutes. Light refreshments will be served. 

I hope to see you there. 

Laina Bay-Cheng 
Interim Provost & Vice-President Academic 

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WWF-Canada named 91亚色 as one of seven Canadian post-secondary institutions recognized for translating environmental commitments into conservation initiatives, learning opportunities and community action.

During the 2025-26 academic year, 91亚色's Office of Sustainability, Facilities Services, Biodiversity Working Group, faculty, student organizations and community partners worked collaboratively to advance initiatives spanning ecological restoration, biodiversity conservation, sustainable food systems and environmental leadership.

91亚色 is transforming its campuses into places where environmental action is not only studied but put into practice, says Nicole Arsenault, director, Office of Sustainability. Students, staff, faculty and community members participated in biodiversity monitoring, pollinator garden stewardship, sustainable food programming at the Maloca Garden and Earth Month activities.

Those efforts translated into hands-on sustainability learning and measurable action across 91亚色鈥檚 campuses, including the planting of close to 400 trees and campus cleanups that collected 36 bags of litter.

鈥淥ur campuses are important places for both learning and biodiversity,鈥� says Arsenault. 鈥淓arning the Living Campus certification for a third consecutive year reflects 91亚色鈥檚 ongoing approach to sustainability as something we put into practice across our campuses."

WWF-Canada highlighted 91亚色鈥檚 biodiversity work, including the planting of native vegetation to restore an area of Glendon Campus affected by a water main break.

The University鈥檚 wider habitat enhancement work included naturalization, invasive species management, biodiversity monitoring and stewardship of campus green spaces.

As well, students and staff recorded more than 200 species observations during two inventories of plants, wildlife and other biodiversity on campus.

The Sheila Colla Pollinator Garden 鈥� a memorial garden celebrating the late 91亚色 Professor Sheila Colla 鈥� provides another example of biodiversity in action, bringing together research, remembrance, community participation and conservation to create habitat for pollinators at 91亚色.

Through these initiatives, Arsenault says 91亚色 community members developed knowledge and skills related to ecological restoration, waste reduction, biodiversity conservation and sustainable food systems.

鈥淏y bringing together students, faculty, staff and community partners, we鈥檙e creating opportunities for hands-on learning while restoring habitat, supporting biodiversity and advancing the goals of 91亚色鈥檚 Sustainability Strategy 2030," she says.

The work advances priorities identified in 91亚色鈥檚 Sustainability Strategy 2030, Sustainability Policy, University Academic Plan and Well-being Strategy, as well as its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

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The Canada鈥檚 awards are presented annually by Delta Management Group to recognize leaders who have made significant contributions to the clean economy over the previous two years. The Lifetime Contribution Award recognizes senior sustainability leaders whose careers have advanced environmental protection and climate resilience in Canada. 

Recipients are selected from more than 1,000 nominees nationwide.

Winfield, a professor at the , was recognized for a career spanning governance research, institution building, public engagement and student mentorship.

"I really see this as a recognition of the contributions of all of the people I have worked with over the years: colleagues and students at EUC, but also through the Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy, the Pembina Institute, and the Canadian Environmental Network," says Winfield.

Gavin Pitchford, CEO of Delta Management Group. says to receive a Clean50 award is truly indicative of nation-wide and personal leadership in the Lifetime Contribution category. "The individuals we chose for the Clean50 this year are true leaders and should be an inspiration for all Canadians.鈥�

Winfield has played a significant role in Canadian environmental policy since 1992, beginning with the Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy and later the before moving into academia. He served as a civil society member of Government of Canada delegations to international environmental negotiations and has worked with the North American Commission on Environmental Cooperation, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and the Organization for Economic Cooperation (OECD) on international environmental initiatives and projects.  

At 91亚色, Winfield's research has focused on sustainable energy, climate change, environmental law and public policy. He serves as co-chair of 91亚色鈥檚 and is co-founder of the and helped establish the Energy Modelling Hub as a nationally recognized resource. 

As a graduate supervisor and program leader, Winfield has mentored generations of students who have pursued careers in government, environmental organizations, law, research and public policy. 

鈥淭hrough supervising graduate students, he has also built a small army of policy professionals, sending them off into government, law and the non-profit world," says Pitchford. "Three decades in, he is still building the institutions the next generation will need, for the long haul.鈥� 

He is the author of two books and more than 50 chapters and articles. His research has contributed to policy development discussions in Canada and abroad, from testimony before Canada鈥檚 Senate and House of Commons to questions from the Australian Parliament about nuclear energy in Ontario.  

Winfield has also served as an advisor to environmental oversight bodies and contributed to research collaborations examining community energy planning, energy storage, low-carbon transitions and climate governance. He is co-editor of Carbon Federalism: Canadian Climate Governance in a Disrupted World, submitted to the University of Toronto Press last month.

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The five-year , funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), brought together more than 61 Inuit youth researchers, Elders, cultural advisors, musicians, artists and voice actors to co-create a psycho-educational video game grounded in Inuit knowledge and culture.

Led by Professor Yvonne Bohr at 91亚色's , the initiative was developed in partnership with communities across Nunavut and was guided by Inuit youth for everything from the game's story and artwork to its music, voice acting and wellness content.

Inspired by Inuit Qaggiq, a traditional Inuit gathering space for learning and community renewal, the game combines Western therapeutic strategies (such as cognitive behavioural therapy) with Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ), a set values based on Inuit philosophy, Elder teachings and other tactics shared by Inuit youth.

During the game, players follow a young protagonist named Alaasua through seven quests exploring wellness topics identified as important to Inuit youth, including interpersonal conflict, substance use and relationship loss. 

Between October 2025 and July 2026, 276 Inuit youth from 37 communities across Canada tested the game and provided feedback through surveys, interviews and evaluation workshops. 

Bohr says the findings suggest the game is both safe and beneficial for participating youth. The research team found improvements in participants' confidence and ability to manage difficult emotions, challenge negative thoughts and use coping strategies such as seeking support from others. 

For many involved, the impact extended beyond gameplay. Inuit youth who co-created the game gained experience in research, leadership and mental health advocacy, while sharing Inuit culture and advancing traditional IQ principles.

"We have learned that young people in Nunavut have a great passion for supporting mental wellness in their communities," says Bohr. "While youth leaders and Elders are eager to evaluate Western mental health interventions for youth, Inuit knowledge about healing must be front and centre in those interventions. Ideally, any mental health intervention should be developed by youth themselves with the support of their communities."

The game鈥檚 success is attracting attention. Earlier this month, Virtual Qaggiq was featured by CBC News for its innovative approach to supporting Inuit youth mental health through culturally relevant digital spaces. 

"What excites me most about the Virtual Qaggiq project is the promise the game has shown as a culturally grounded mental health resource for Inuit youth," says project coordinator and 91亚色 research assistant Yogita Singh. "Seeing Inuit youth on the team grow from project council members into research assistants and emerging leaders in mental health and research has been incredibly inspiring." 

The research team is working with the Nunavut Department of Education to explore making Virtual Qaggiq available to youth through schools and afterschool programs across the territory. The team is also considering future initiatives that build on the project's community-led model to address other priorities identified by Inuit youth. 

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To answer this, 91亚色 researcher Jonathan Michaels is investigating how the brain recognizes rhythm, anticipates patterns and coordinates movement with sound, work that has earned him a Brain Canada Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research award.

Michaels is one of 26 early-career researchers across Canada selected for the program, which supports emerging scientists pursuing high-risk, high-reward research with the potential to improve brain and health outcomes. The program is supported by the Azrieli Foundation and Brain Canada through the Canada Brain Research Fund, a partnership with the Government of Canada (Health Canada). 

鈥淭his award gives our lab the freedom to pursue an ambitious question about how learning changes the brain,鈥� says Michaels. 鈥淎s an early-career researcher, having support to follow an unexpected finding and test where it leads is especially valuable. I鈥檓 grateful to Brain Canada and its partners for making that possible.鈥� 

The $100,000 award will fund his project 鈥�,鈥� which investigates how reward helps the brain turn rhythmic sounds into predictions that guide movement.听

An assistant professor at 91亚色鈥檚 , Michaels will study this learning process through experiments with monkeys, tracking how the animals learn to anticipate sounds and timing their movements. By studying activity across multiple brain regions, he hopes to identify how rhythm-processing signals emerge and spread throughout the brain.

In a preliminary experiment, a monkey listened to repeated tones paired with small juice rewards. Brain regions involved in movement and motivation began responding to the rhythm. Even more interesting, he says, is that the brain can continue tracking the rhythm after the reward is gone, suggesting that learning had changed how the brain responded to the sounds. 

This is foundational research into how the brain learns to connect sound and movement, says Michaels. In the longer term, that understanding could inform approaches to movement rehabilitation. 

鈥淚'm excited to continue building knowledge that could have meaningful impacts on health and well-being,鈥� says Michaels. 鈥淏eing recognized alongside outstanding researchers from across Canada is both an honour and a motivation.鈥� 

This is the second recognition for Michaels this year; his contributions to the study of neuroscience earned him a Brain Star Award from the Canadian Association for Neuroscience for his research investigating the power of prediction. 

He is the principal investigator at the at 91亚色, where he leads a team of researchers on work to understand how the brain learns and controls skilled movement with the goal of improving recovery from injury and disease.听

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Marketers and policymakers often assume people sense, think, feel and relate in broadly similar, stable ways. However, new research argues that consumer experiences are shaped by a range of internal and external factors. Stress, sleep loss, aging and illness can all influence how people processes information and navigate marketplaces, leading to hard-to-read fine print, overwhelming store and app experiences and rushed decisions made under pressure.

The argument is set out in 鈥�" published in the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing. The study was co-authored by Raisa T. Zaman, a PhD candidate at Schulich, together with an international team of scholars from Canada, the U.S., the U.K. and Europe.

Drawing on research from psychiatry, neuroscience and neurodiversity studies, the authors argue that variation in how people process the world is universal and constantly shifting, not limited to the one-in-five people who identify as neurodivergent.

鈥淢arketers and policymakers often design for one 'average' mind,鈥� says Zaman, who is conducting her PhD studies under the supervision of Professors Ela Veresui and Russell Belk. 鈥淲hen a store, an app or an ad overwhelms us, we tend to blame ourselves. Our research shows that this is a design error and one that can be avoided.鈥�

To address this, the researchers introduce the STAR (sense, think, affect and relate) framework, which helps practitioners and policymakers identify where marketplace design assumes everyone processes information the same way. They also propose neuropluralist design, a set of eight principles for building more flexible and accessible consumer experiences, including tactics such as adjustable sensory input, multiple ways to engage and self-paced interaction.

The team illustrates the framework using influencer marketing, a global industry valued at more than U.S. $40 billion and one where consumer safeguards can be limited. For example, a sponsorship disclosure can meet legal requirements and still go unnoticed by consumers who are scrolling quickly, multitasking or experiencing fatigue.

The researchers argue that regulators ask not only whether disclosures exist, but whether people can actually notice, understand and act on them.

鈥淲e believe the era of designing for the mythical 'average' consumer has reached its limits,鈥� concludes Zaman. 鈥淲hen systems are designed for variability, they become more inclusive, resilient and effective for everyone.鈥�

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Shital Desai, an associate professor at the , has been appointed to the Standards Council of Canada's mirror committee for the International Electrotechnical Commission Systems Committee on Active Assisted Living (IEC/SyC AAL).

Through the appointment, Desai will contribute community-engaged research insights and subject matter expertise to Canada鈥檚 participation in the development of international standards for accessible assistive technologies.

The committee supports the development of standards for technologies, products and services that promote independent living, accessibility and quality of life for people of all ages and abilities, including older adults, people with disabilities and people living with dementia.

As a member, Desai will review standards documents, provide subject-matter expertise and help develop consensus based Canadian positions on international standards initiatives.

"This appointment is an opportunity for me to bring 91亚色's expertise and commitment to inclusive innovation into international standards development," says Desai.

"I look forward to collaborating with experts from Canada and around the world to help shape technologies and systems that are accessible, responsible and responsive to people's needs."

The appointment reflects Desai's longstanding research in accessible interaction design, inclusive and assistive technologies, aging and dementia, as well as participatory approaches that engage older adults and people with disabilities in the design process. Her participation on the committee will also create opportunities to bring emerging international standards into both her research and teaching.

She plans to incorporate insights from the committee's work into course content and experiential learning opportunities, giving students exposure to the standards and requirements that shape technologies from design through implementation. Desai says students will also be encouraged to explore how accessibility-focused innovations can be translated into socially responsible and commercially viable solutions that address community needs.   

"This role will allow me to introduce students to standards-informed design and show them how international standards influence the development, evaluation and adoption of accessible and assistive technologies," says Desai.

Beyond student learning, Desai sees the appointment as an opportunity to extend the global reach of her community-engaged research by helping to ensure accessibility and lived experience remain central considerations in standards development.

"Older adults, people with disabilities and people living with dementia often encounter usability and adoption barriers when technologies do not reflect their needs, abilities and everyday contexts," she says.

"When their perspectives and lived experiences inform standards, and standards subsequently guide the design and development process, technologies and services are more likely to be accessible, useful, interoperable and adopted in practice."

Desai hopes to help ensure that diverse perspectives are reflected in global standards development while demonstrating 91亚色's leadership in inclusive innovation.

"Ultimately, I hope this work contributes to technologies and services that support independence, participation and quality of life in Canada and around the world."

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The project 鈥淒eveloping LGBTQI+ Health Surveillance Capacity in Canada: Longitudinal Linked-Data Analyses of Primary Care, Prevention, Chronic Disease, Disability, and Unmet Need鈥� aims to generate evidence that can help reduce health inequities and improve health care services, programs and policies for sexually and gender-diverse communities. 

The study is led by Antony Chum, associate professor in 91亚色's , with co-principal applicant Yihong Bai (University of Manitoba) and co-principal knowledge user Jennifer Rayner (Alliance for Healthier Communities). The team also includes co-investigators from 91亚色 and partner institutions, including 91亚色 graduate鈥嬧�� Alex Abramovich and 91亚色 postdoctoral research fellow Peiya Cao, as well as Brittany A. Jakubiec, Caley B. Shukalek, David Brennan, Devan Nambiar and June Lam. 

Previous research on 2SLGBTQIA+ care has largely focused on mental health and sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections, including HIV. As a result broader health needs remain understudied. Addressing this gap is important because stigma, discrimination and barriers to inclusive care can delay screening and treatment, contributing to poorer outcomes, says Chum. 

The project aims to develop public health surveillance capacity for 2SLGBTQIA+ populations in Canada using census, survey and health administrative data, the team will track the outcomes of millions of Canadians over periods of up to 20 years. The findings will provide a comprehensive picture of their health and examining primary care access, cancer screening and incidence, vaccination, chronic disease, disability, and preventable emergency department visits and hospitalizations. 

The findings will identify when and where gaps in care emerge and who is most affected. Working with community and health system partners, the team will use this evidence to inform improvements in primary care, preventive services and chronic disease management for 2SLGBTQIA+ people across Canada. 

The funding was awarded through CIHR鈥檚 Advancing 2S/LGBTQI+ Health Through Research program. 

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